HP helps SOFTBANK MOBILE build app store

SOFTBANK MOBILE has used an HP online storefront solution to build app store for more than 29 million customers in Japan. The online appstore is a a fast, easy way to shop for, download and manage wireless services and entertainment content.

Leading communications service providers (CSPs) such as SOFTBANK MOBILE are creating content stores to help win and retain customer loyalty in a fast-changing mobile internet market.

SOFTBANK MOBILE, one of the three largest CSPs in Japan, used the HP Service Delivery Platform (SDP) Storefront Portal to create an online content store called The SOFTBANK Bookstore. Launched in December 2010, The SOFTBANK Bookstore is very popular with customers, offering them more than 372,000 files.

The company has expanded this broad variety of choices by supplementing its own offerings with those from other major third-party content providers. It further enhances customer flexibility by supporting multiple handsets and wireless devices.

“SOFTBANK MOBILE’s number one goal is the best customer experience, and the SOFTBANK Bookstore is a big step toward that goal,” said Hironobu Tamba, division head, Product and Service Division, SOFTBANK MOBILE.

HP understood our business, provided a complete solution that cut time-to-market in half, and helped us with final implementation he added.

The HP SDP Storefront Portal, based on HP SDP, is an integrated solution with an extensible framework that can help CSPs link SDPs to the app store business model. The solution includes a customer-facing app store and a developer portal, and has been deployed by CSPs worldwide.

“SOFTBANK MOBILE is building valuable customer loyalty with the online service delivery storefront solutions from HP,” said David Sliter, vice president and general manager, Communications, Media and Entertainment Solutions, Enterprise Services, HP.

The new HP SDP Storefront Portal also is enabling it to transform its business models with new revenue streams he added.